Noninterfering successive signaling system



Feb. 22, 1938. M. w. MUEHTER 2,109,273

/ NONINTERFERING SUCCESSIVE SIGNALING SYSTEM Filed Dec. 21, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 TRANSFER CAM WHEEL INVENTOR M17 y W me ifer (b 7 ATTORNEY.

Feb. 22, 193a M. TE 2,109,273

NONINTERFERING SUCCESSIVE SIGNALING SYSTEM Filed Dec. 21, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 r ATTORNEY.

Feb. 22, 1938.

M. w. MUEHTER 2,109,273-

NONINTERFERING SUCCESSIVE SIGNALING SYSTEM Filed Dec. 21, 1934 4 SheetS- -Sheet s v (will D- P ATTORQEY.

Feb. 22, 1938. r M. w. MUEH'lf-ER 2,109,273

NONINTERFERING SUCCESSIVE SIGNALING SYSTEM -Filed Dec. 21., 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR:

Q M1 (Ml,

Patented Feb. 22, 1938 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFIICEA 2,109,273 NONINTERFERING SUCCESSIVE SIGNALING I v r 1 SYS TEM Manfred W. Muehter, Nutley, N. J., assignor to American District Telegraph Company, Jersey City, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application December 21, 1934, Serial No. 758,582

16 Claims.

and wherein the motor is operated by current,

impulses and operates means for varying the strength of these impulses for sending code signals.

Other objects of the invention are to provide, in a system of this kind, improved signal means for indicating grounds and line breaks and their removal.

Additional objects of the invention are to improve generally the simplicity and efiiciency of such systems and apparatus and to provide an apparatus of this kind which is reliable in operation, and economical to manufacture and install;

Still other objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds; and while herein details of the invention are described in the specification and some of the claims, the invention is not limited to these, since many and various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed in the broader claims.

The inventive features for the accomplishment of these and other objects are shown herein in connection with a positive non-interfering successive signaling system which briefly stated, includes a series of distant transmitters, each comprising a current motor, and a coding switch operated by-the motor.

A startingline and anoperating line are connected to a current source.- A switch adapted to be operated by a sprinkler system valve or other device connects themotor in circuit with the starting line; and then meansset in operation by the motor when started connect the motor in circuit with the operating line and disconnect the motor from the starting line and isolates the starting line toprevent other transmitters from being started.

In the accompanying drawings showing, by way of example, one of many possible embodiments of the invention,

Figs, 1 and 2 are complementary figures t0- 7 ment of the code wheel, I I.

gether showing a diagram of the system, Fig. 2 showing that part of the system which is at the control or receiving station, Fig. 1, showing that part which is not at thecontrol station.

Fig. 2a. shows the matter of Fig. 2 in across-the- 7 line diagram.

The line circuit consists of a three-wirev loop comprising a common line A, a starting line B and an operating line C to which the individual transmitters 10 (Fig. 1) used for supervising various types of devices are connected. Twotransmitters are shown, by way of example, connected to the line circuit, the wiring of one transmitter being indicated in detail but a larger number of transmitters would be used. All transmitters are alike except for a definite code tooth arrange- The control center is shown in Fig. 2, to the right of the transmitter and is connected to the line circuit by suitable terminals.

Supervision Lines A and B are supervised as'follows: The current passes through a path from plus of the battery l2, l2 over conductor l3, over line A past the transmitters, over switch members M, [5 of the switch SI, the coil of relay IBA, line wire B past the transmitters through conductor ll, #4 contact of relay X, to conductor l8 and minus of the battery. Relay USA is thus normally kept energized, supervising the line wires A and B as will be explained.

Line 0 is supervised by relay 203 as follows.

Current passes through a path which may be traced from plus through conductor l3, conductor 2|, the #2 contact of relay X, conductor 22, winding U2 of relay U, conductor 23, the coil of relay B, switch elements 24, of switch $2, from there through the third line wire C to terminal-4c and through conductor C4, thecontact 5d of the master camr28, conductor C3, in like manner through the various transmitters, which are all connected across terminals 40 and 3c, and then through line C, winding Ul of relay U, conductor 29, contact #6 of relay X, conductor |8, to minus. The two windings Uland U2, of relay U' have the same number of turns and are arranged. to oppose one another so that the efiect on relay U will be neutralized.

In case of a break in any of the line wires A, B or 0, either relay IBA or relay 203 will become deenergized and close contact l6c' or 20c and give a trouble signal by a lamp or hell or both as in standard practice, onlyvthe contacts of the relays being here shown.

The center of the battery is connected through conductor 30, contact #1 of relay X, conductor 3|, to the coil of relay G, the other end of the coil G being grounded. A ground at any point of the external circuit of any of the three wires will operate relay G, which in turn gives the usual trouble alarm not shown.

Normal operation Whena device such as a gate valve, connected to the switch arm 33, changes its condition, it will close the circuit for operating a stepping magnet motor M of the associated transmitter. The motor M comprises a magnet 40M having separate coils as will be explained. This circuit can' be 4| and the coil. 43,,44ia're in connected multiple through conductors 45, 46 and the line wire A to plus of the battery |2. I

Thetransmitter magnet 40M will then attract its armature 48 and produce the following result: The ratchet pawl p will slip down over one tooth of the ratchet ,wheel'48'and engage the next lower tooth, andthe armature ,will close contact; 48A and establish a circuit from terminal line A (at which point plus polarity is available astraced above), through conductor s .45, 49, con

ftact 48A, contact 6d of the master cam switch,

55, 56 and- |8 to minus. ,Relay Q operates and ,closes a holding circuit for itself through its #2 .contact,.conductors 58, .51, 50, 3, to.plus;- and terminal 30 of the'pa'rticular transmitter, vthe third line wire C and throughthe various contacts5d of the other transmitters over terminal 740, 30, through coil III of starting relay U, .con-

ductor 2 9, andthe #6 contact of relay'X to minus. Thereby the current fiow through winding U| of relay U is increased appreciably while the current flow through winding U2;.of relay U is decreased somewhat by the shunt effectof this circuit. Winding U| will therefore gain preponderance over winding U2 and operate. the

relay U which, will start otherrelays as will be explained. When operated relay U closes its #I contact and completes a circuit'from plus through conductors 13,50, #1 contact, conductor 5|, the coilv of relay P, its series resistance52, conductors 53, 54, 55, 56 and I8 to minus thus operating relay P. Relay P then ,closes a.circuit for relay Q which can be traced, as follows. 1' From plus through conductors I350, 51, 58, the #3 contact of relay P, the conductor 59, .thecoil of,,relay Q and its series-resistance 60,,conductors1'53, 54,

by closing, its contact #I connects conductor 5|,

through conductor'62, contact I. .of relay Q, conductor 63;.to the other terminalof the winding of relay P, thus' shunting. out the winding of P. When relay P thus' drops out, a circuit is closed from plus through conductors I3, 50, the

.,#| I contact of relay U, conductor 5|, the #l contact of relay P, conductor 64,-the #37contact, ,of relay -Q,,conductor 65 to'thewinding XI of relay X, conductors 56, I8 tominus.

Relay X is thus energized and first operatesits armature contact #|2 breaking contact 2 and making by operation of switch member 33.

contact I. By making'contact I a locking circuit is closed for relay U from plus through conductors l3, 2|, the #I contact of relay'X, conductor 61, the #2 contact of relay U, and through winding U3 of relay U, conductors 55, 56, I8 to minus. As will be seen this winding aids winding Ul, and is also capable of holding relay U energized alone.

When #4 contact of relay X breaks, the minus feedis removed from the line B causing the transmitter magnet'M to release its armature andpreventing other transmitters from starting The armature pawl 48p will then move the ratchet wheel 48w one step causing the master cam 28 to open its contacts 2d, 4d, 5d, 6d and close contacts Id, 311, whereby the conductors 39, 42 and the two coils ofthe magnet motor M are disconnected from line B and connected through contacts Id,

3d and conductors C4, C3 to terminals: #40 and #30 respectively, while the connection between the two terminalsthroughcontact 5d opens, preventing minuscurrentfrom contact 30 from reaching transmitters to the right. 1

The instant when relay P released, the following events took place: The closing of contact#4 of relay P shuts out the coil of relay Q causing this relayto release. This removes the shunt from relay P allowing that relay to operate: again. When relay P operates, a circuit is closed which can be traced as from minus through conductor -|8, the #5 contact of relay X,'conductor 1|, the

- #2 contact of relay P, conductor 12, winding X2 of relay X, the coil, of relay C, the #3 contact 1 this circuit, the pawl 48p, engaging the next ratchet tooth. It will be noted that the former shunt circuit through contact 48A is made ineffectiveby opening of contact 6d, and that only one transmitter is able to obtain, this second impulse, as the transmitter located nearest to thelower ends of the lines A, B, C at the control center will open the line C by opening its contact 5d. Therefore, if several transmitters should start up simultaneously, only onewill be able to proceed farther than the first ratchet step. As the opening of #4 contact of relay X removes the minus feed from theline B, no other transmitter can cut in on the one that is actually transmitting.

Relays P and Q continue to oscillate as'described above in the followingsequence; first relay P is energized; second, relay Q is energized; third, relay P is shunted and releases, and fourth, relay Q is shunted and releases.

Every time P closes its #2 contact, an impulse is sent out through conductor 12, coil X2, coil of relay C,#3 contact of relayU, conductor 15 and the line C to the transmitter, as traced above, and every time Preleases, this circuit isopened,

causing. the transmitter to release and move its ratchet wheel48w and code wheel one step for each impulse. The duration of the impulse is primarily governed by the time of the release of .relay P which can be made as slow as desired due to the shunt effect, and slightly by the time required for relay Q to operate while the duration of the space between impulses is primarily gov This cyclerepeats itself for the .fullduration of the signal.

I plied.

on the wheel.

erned' by the time of release of relay Q and -theone nea-rest to the lower end vofuthe line can slightly by the operating time of relay P. As the code wheel .H of the transmitteris rotated, its teeth will close its pen Tl. upon contact 1-8 and 79 in accordance with the code out The contact! 19 has no efiectat this time (Contacts 30, to being separated), but the closure of contact l8 forms a shunt 45, ll, 78,

83 which shunts out a portion M of .the operating winding of the transmitter magnet increasing'the current flow in the line circuit and also through relay C. 'This relay C is adjusted to operate .under this increased current. iiow, but the current. flow is not sufiicient to operate. relay C when the shunt 46, ll, l8, Bil to the operating winding of the transmitter magnet is not ap- W'hen relay C closes its .armature contact 8!, it energizes a recording register 82 through conductors 8.3, 84,. 56' and 18. This means that every time this happens, an impulse will be recorded on the tape in accordance with the code of the particular code wheel transmitting.

After a half, or some predetermined part, of a revolution, the master cam 28 brings its recess 85 to receive the pen 2802, the contacts are thereby restored to their original normal condition. In the meantime, the outer part 81 of the transfer cam 8?, has engaged the pen 1? and opened the contact 215, and closed contact It. The original starting circuit through conductor 36 to contact 21: is therefore now open. When relay P closes its #2 contact for the next impulse after this, the former operating circuit through conductor i8, contact of relayX, contact #2 of relay P, conductor 12, the winding X2, the coil of relay C, the #3 contact of relay U and conductors l5 and line C is open at contacts 3d and 48A and the transmitter coil is no longer connected to terminal 30; furthermore the #2 contact of relay X keeps open'the return over the upper part of line 0, switch 24, 25, the coil of relay 20B and winding U2 of relay U, conductor 22, contact #2 of relay X, conductor ii to plus battery. The windingXZ is thus deprived of current. However, relay 'X was depending on this winding during the time an impulse is sent out to the line for holding up, its armature as the circuit through its #1 winding was open due to relays P and Q being energized; and relay X will therefore release its armature restoring its con tacts to the normal condition, opening its #i contact and deenergize winding U3, and cause relay U to release. This relay opens its #l contact and breaks the operating circuit of relay P. The pulsing relay P and associated relay Q therefore come to a stop in their normal deenergized position. The line circuit is restored to the original condition by contacts #2, 4, and #6 of relay X closing.

If another transmitter is Waitingto send its signal, it will pull up its armature 48 as soon as #4 contact of relay X closes thereby starting the same cycle of events. Likewise, if the member 33 of the device switch of the transmitter just operated restores to the original condition a starting circuit is again closed for its transmitter this time over conductor 39 and through contact it of the transfer earn 8?. This will cause the transmitter to start and cause a signal to be transmit' ted by the other half of the code wheel i i which half is distinctive from the firstone causing a distinctive signal indicating'the restoration of the device switch member 33 to normal. If two transmitters are waiting at the same timeonly advance to signal after contact 512 is broken.

Operation under trouble condition .in any well known manner) thereby connecting :both ends ofline A to plus battery the upper end being connected through contacts I4, '90 and conductor: 9.1.5. This change in switch Si also connects both ends. of line 3 together through -contacts92', 23 .of switch S1. The system isnow in operative condition as the transmitters located on one side of the break will receive their power. over the upper endof lines A and B while transmitters located on the other side of the break .will r'eceivethir powerover the lower end 'of the lines A and B. l a

A break in line .C willrelease relay B and deene'rgize coils U1, U2. up connecting the upper end of lineC' through conductor *fiiiito coil Vi of relay V. If the break is located between the operating transmitter and the upper end of the line C, operation of the motor will energize-coil U I and the system will operate" the same as before. However, if the break'in line C is. located between'the' operating transmitter and the lower end of the line C, the following circuit will be closed when contact 48A of the transmitter closes: from plus over line A, terminal la, conductors '46, 49, contacts 48A, 6d, Ed in series, terminal 4c, the" line "wire C, switch S2, conductor 95, Winding VI of a second starting "relay V, conductor 31, the #3 contact of relay X to minus. Relay V operates and, closing of its #2 contact, starts the pulsing relay P through conductor 5! in the same manner as from the't i contact of relay U as before described. Relay V locks in from plus through conductor zi, the #i contact of relay X, #1 contact of relay V, coil V2 of relay V conductors 54, 55, 56 to minus. The rest of the operation will be the same as above except that'the pulsing circuit for the transmitter is asfollows: Fromi minus through #5 contact of relay X, conductor H, the #2 contact of relay P, conductor 12, winding X2, the coil of relay C, #4 contact of -relay U, conductor 99, 'sWitchSZ, line C, terminal 40 of the transmitter, contact Id of the master switch, conductor 39, the left-hand coil 40, 5| of the transmitter, conductors 45, 45, terminal la and line A to plus. A In this case contact 19 will transmit the code by shunting out a portion 4! of the left-hand co l of the transmitter through conductors 4t, 46'. I

" Even if all three wires between two transmitters are open, any of the transmitters will still be able to send itssignal after both switches S! and S2 once, as it will operate the U relay as explained above which by opening its #4 contact and closing its #3 contact causes impulses to be sent out only through the lower part of the line C. A

single ground on the line wires will not interfere with the operation but will be detected by the ground detector relay G. During the time of transmission, the relay G is disconnected from the system by the opening of contact #7 of relay X so that in case of a trouble ground that ground If two or more transmitters located Switch S2 is then thrown will be the only one on the system and will, therefore, have no effect on its operation.

It must be understood that it is not essential to connect the two coils of the transmitter magnet in multiple for starting. It could alsobe arranged for series connection for starting. Like- Wise, the increase of current for coding purposes could be obtained by shuntinga resistance instead of a portion of the winding or by shunting both.

The series connection of the motor coils; for starting the motor, is shown in Fig. 3. Starting current is introduced to the conductor38 of Fig.

' 3 as described of Fig. l, and finds a paththrough conductor 38, contact 2d, conductor 39", windings 40, 4|, conductor 39", contact 3d, conductor 42', windings 43, 44, conductors 45', 46, contact Ia and line A. The motor then closes contact 48A and steps the master cam 28 as described of Fig.

1.' This opens contacts 2d, 4d, 5d and 6d, and closes contacts Id, 2d and 3d, whereupon motoroperating current finds a path from the operating line C through conductor c4,contact |d, conductor 39', windings 40, 4|, conductor 39", contactZd and conductors 45", 46, and another path through conductor c3, contact 3d, conductor 42, windings 43, 44 and conductor 45. This allows operation as previously described, the

opening of contact 4d breaking the series'connection of the winding, the closing contact 2d causing conductors 45, 46 to function as the conductor 45 in Fig. 1.' The operation of contacts 11, 18 and 19 shunt out the windings 4| and 44 of Fig. 3 as in Fig. l;

In the form of Fig. 4 the increase of coding gized starting line; each transmitter-including a motor for operating the transmitter; means for connecting each motor in circuit with the starting line for energizing such motor; and means operated by each motor for connecting such motor to the operating line for operating the associated transmitterand isolating the starting line and the portion of the operating line on one side of the associated transmitter.

2. In combination, a series of signal transmitters; an energized starting line; each transmitter including a motor for operating the transmitter; means for establishing connection of such motor in circuit with the starting line'for starting such motor; means set in operation by the motor on the establishment of such connection for rendering the starting line inoperative for starting the motors 'of other transmitters; and means co joperating with such motor for continuing its operation and controlled by such motor for supplying driving current thereto for transmitting.

3. In combination, a series of transmitters; including a source of current; a common line connected to one pole of the source and passing near the transmitters in one direction; a starting line passing near the transmitters in the same direction and then to the second pole of the source; an operating line passing near said transmitters to the second pole; a startingrelay comprising an operating magnet influenced by variations of current 'in'the operating line; each'transmitter comprising a stepping motor having an operating coil; switching means for connecting the coil be-.

tween the common and starting'lines for-energizing the motor, means operated by the motor for connecting. the common line to the operating'line,

thereby varying current in the operating linei'or' operating the starting relay; means set inoperation by the operation of the starting relay for V disconnecting said second pole from the starting line, whereby the motor is deenergized, and then causing pulsation of the current in the operating line; means operated by the motor when thus de-.

energized, for connecting the motor coil between tions in the current in the common line; and-receiving means controlled by said variations.

4. In combination, an impulse circuit; means for supplying impulses to said circuit; a transmitter therein having a motor means for con-' necting the motor in the impulse circuit, whereby the motor is operated by impulses of said circuit; code means in the transmitter operated by the motor for causing intermittent variations in the strength of the impulses in the circuit; and receiving means controlled. by said variations in said current.

5. In'combination, a series of transmitters each comprising a motor and means for transmitting difierent successive signals; a starting line; an

operating line; a transfer switch having, two fixed elements and a movable element and having its movable element connected to the starting line; connecting means for'connecting the motor.

in circuit with one of the fixed elements of the transfer switch; means set in operation by the motor to connect said connecting means to the other fixed element of the transfer'switch means operated by the motor when started to connect the motor in circuit with one end portion of the operating line and disconnecting the motor from the starting line; a source of current connected to said lines; and means set in operation by the motor when started for isolating the starting line from the source.

6. In combination a source of current; a line connected to one pole of said source; anoperating line adapted to be connected at one or both ends to the other pole of the source; a transmitter comprising a motor comprising two coils either.

of which can drive the motor; means connecting said coils in parallel between the first line and separated points on the operating line; and means for starting the motor and opening the line between said points.

7. In combination, a series of transmitters; a source of current; a common line connected to one pole of the source and a starting line passing the transmitters to the second pole of the source; an operating line passing from said first 'pole near said. transmitters to the second pole; a

the motor; switch controlled means associated with each transmitter for connecting the motor coils thereof in parallel between the common and separated points of the starting line at such transmitter for energizing the motor; means operated by the motor when started to connect the common line with the operating line and including means for operating the starting relay on the same side of the break with the operating motor; means set in operation by the operated starting relay for disconnecting said second pol-e from the starting line; and means operated by the motor for connecting the motor between the common line and two points of the operating line and breaking the operating line between said points.

8. In combination, a series of transmitters; a source of current; a common line connected to one pole of the source and passing near the transmitters; a starting line passing near the transmitters to the second pole of the source; an operating line passing near said transmitters to the second pole; a starting relay operated by current in the operating line; each transmitter comprising a motor; switch controlled means for connecting the motor between the common and starting lines for energizing the motor; means operated by the motor when started to connect the common line with the operating line for operating the starting relay; means set in operation by the operation of the starting relay for disconnecting said second pole from the starting line; means operated by the motor for connecting the motor between the common line and a point of the operating line and breaking the operating line beyond said point.

9. In combination, a series of transmitters each comprising a motor; a control station including a source of voltage; a conductor connected to one pole of the source and passing from said pole near the transmitters as a common line, and then back to the station and near the transmitters as a starting line, and then back to the second pole of the source; an operating line passing from the first named pole through and past said transmitters in the same direction to the second pole; a starting relay comprising an operating magnet having opposed coils interposed in opposite ends of the operating line; means for connecting the motor in circuit with the starting line; means set in operation by the motor when started to connectthe motor in circuit with the operating line, operating the starting relay, and disconnecting the motor from the starting line; and means set in operation by the starting relay for disconnecting said second pole from the starting line.

10. In combination, a series of signal transmitters; an operating line and a starting line passing the transmitters; a motor for each transmitter adapted to be started by current from the starting line; and means set in operation by the motor in circuit with the operating line thereby causing current change therein, means set in operation by the current change in the starting line for causing the operating line to operate the started motor, and for preventing the starting line from initiating the operation of other transmitters.

11. In combination, a series of signal transmitters; an operating line and a starting line; a motor for each transmitter; means for connecting any one of said motors in circuit with the starting line for energizing such motor; switching means operated by the motor for connecting the switching means in circuit with the operating line, thereby causing current change in the operating line; and means set in operation by such change for supplying current to the operating line to operate such connected motor, and for preventing the starting line from initiating the operation of any of the other transmitters, thereby to prevent confusion of signals.

12. A system as in claim 11 comprising a coding'means operated by the motor for varying the current in the operating line,

13. In combination, a series of signal transmitters; an operating line and an energize-d starting line passing all of the transmitters; a motor for each transmitter; means for connecting any one of said motors in circuitlwith the starting line for energizing such connected motor; and means set in operation by such connected motor for connecting such motor to the operating line, to operate such motor and its associated transmitter, disconnecting the portion of the operating line on one side of such operating transmitter, and deenergizing the starting line at all of the transmitters.

14. In combination, a series of signal transmitters; an energized operating line and an energized starting line passing the transmitters; an energized common line of different potential from the other lines; a motor for each transmitter; means for connecting any of said motors between the common line and starting line for starting such motor; and means operated by such started motor for connecting such motor between the common and operating lines and rendering the starting line incapable of starting any of the other of said motors.

15. In combination, a series of signal transmitters; an energized operating line and an energized starting line passing the transmitters; an energized common line of different potential from the other lines; a motor for each transmitter; switch means for each motor for connecting such motor between the common line and starting line for starting such motor; means operated by such motor for connecting such motor between the common and operating lines and deenergizing the starting line for rendering it incapable of starting any of the other of said motors; and code transmitting means operated by each motor for establishing a connection of variable,conductivity between the operating and common lines.

16. In combination, a series of signal transmitters, each comprising a motor for operating such transmitter; a starting line; means associated with each motor for connecting such motor by each motor when started for operating the disabling means.

' MANFRED W. MUEH'I'ER. 

